This was disclosed by Magalang Mayor Malu Lacson in the media forum “Balitaan” organized by the Capampangan in Media, Inc. (CAMI) in cooperation with the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) at the Bale Balita here on Friday.
Lacson said the vast property in Barangay Ayala is part of the 50 hectares of prime land protected by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for reforestation.
The land grabbers described as “rich and powerful” are desecrating the fabled mountain, according to the mayor who also said another five hectares have been occupied by shanties from illegal settlers.
She said resorts and hotel-like accommodations have been put up in the disputed property as well as villas and big residential houses.
Lacson said the owners of the encroached properties operate their businesses without permits from the municipal government which make them illegal outright.
“We don’t issue business permits. We don’t collect real property taxes (RPT) from them,” she said.
“It’s better not to collect RPTs because that is tantamount to legalizing them. We have an adverse claim in the courts,” she added.
It was learned that the adverse claim was filed during the previous administration.
But Lacson said negotiations with the illegal settlers have been initiated under her administration and last week the municipal government had its first meeting with them.
“We are really planning to make a comprehensive tourism development plan in that area, specifically eco-tourism, and complement the existing structures there,” she pointed out.
The mayor lamented that most of the encroachers are not from Magalang who only bought the rights to the properties from local politicians who initially laid claim to the lots after the term of the Mount Pinatubo Commission expired on December 31, 2000. Since that time, they began occupying the land, she said.
